On 30 October Moldova conducted Presidential elections. It was the first time in 20 years that Moldovans voted for a President directly - before he was chosen by parliament. A second round is expected on 13 November since none of the candidates managed to secure the majority of votes (50% plus one vote). Out of nine candidates, Igor Dodon, a pro-Russian candidate and former Communist Party member (now leader of the Party of Socialists), acquired the most votes - 48.72%, and Maia Sandu, an oppositional pro-European candidate from the Action and Solidarity Party, got 37.96%. Marian Lupu, leader of the Democratic Party who polled in the top 3, withdrew from the race just days before the elections in favour of Maia Sanud, so as not to divide the pro-European vote.The voters turnout was about 48%, with retired population traditionally being the most active (and pro-Russian) and young population (25-35 years old) almost not showing up at all. The Central Election Commission (CEC) recognized the elections as valid since the turnout was more than the required 33.3%. A total of 1,981 polling stations were opened in Moldova and 100 more – abroad, including 25 in Italy, 11 in Romania, eight in Russia and two in Ukraine.
↧